Hose retainer for thermal blanket

ABSTRACT

An inflatable convective thermal blanket is designed to have at least one section on its top surface that has securely mounted thereon at least one fluid absorbent mechanism for absorbing fluids from a subject that is placed onto the blanket, or from fluids fallen onto the blanket from other sources. The one section is configured onto the blanket in such a way that it forms a well for collecting the fluids. The fluid absorbent mechanism, which may be in the form of a pad, would absorb the collected fluid to thereby minimize evaporative and cooling effects on the subject. Instead of mounting it on top of the blanket, the fluid absorbent pad may be mounted to the underside of the blanket, with appropriate holes and/or openings provided at the fluid collecting section, so that the collected fluids are drained onto the fluid absorbent pad. To enhance the input flow of air to the blanket, as well as to enable the blanket to be flatly folded for storage or shipping, a collapsible retainer mechanism is provided at the input port(s) of the blanket. The retainer mechanism opens up to a shape that facilitates the mating of an air hose to the input port. When folded to its collapsed position, the retainer mechanism, and the input port, would lie substantially coplanarly with the blanket. When configured to the position for accepting the air hose, the retainer mechanism is positioned substantially orthogonal to the blanket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to thermal blankets, and more particularlyto a fluid absorbent thermal blanket onto which a patient is placed. Theinvention also relates to a low profile thermal blanket made possible bya new design of the retainer mechanism at the input port of the blanket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An inflatable thermal blanket that is used to support a patient isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,936. The '936 blanket has its top layerand its bottom layer joined together at a number of point joinedlocations. To remove fluids that may accumulate on the blanket, drainopenings are provided at the joined locations so that the fluids may bedrained from the blanket onto the table or bed onto which the blanket isplaced, and from there presumably to a fluid collection tray. The use ofthe '936 thermal blanket therefore requires that the blanket becarefully placed on the table or bed, and be positioned relative to afluid collection tray. Alternatively, a fluid collection tray may needto be placed between the bed and the blanket for collecting the fluidthat is drained from the blanket. Thus, instead of being able to use theblanket right out of the package, certain preparations need to be donebefore the '936 blanket could be used.

As with most, if not all, of the thermal blankets that are available, inorder not to impede the flow of air into the blanket, the input port ofthose blankets are configured to have a particular shape that oftentimesprevents the blankets from being folded to be substantially flat,thereby requiring additional space and packaging for storage and/orshipping.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The underbody thermal convective blanket of the instant invention isadapted to be used for patients of different sizes, for example fromadults to infants. The inventive blanket may be a pedi-underbody blanketwhen it is used for children or infants. Instead of draining fluids fromthe blanket, the inventive blanket is designed to minimize theevaporative and cooling effects that occur when fluids are collectedonto the blanket.

To achieve this, the inventive blanket is made up of a top layer and abottom layer joined together at their respective peripheries and atmultiple locations in the form of sections. Instead of the distinctpoint joined locations as disclosed for the blanket of the '936 patent,at least one area where the top layer is bonded or joined to the lowerlayer is dimensioned at a given width, for example from 1″-3″ andpreferably at 2″. This section extends strategically on the blanket insuch a way that it does not interfere with the circulation flow of thewarm air in the blanket and the air output from the top layer of theblanket, and at a location or locations on the blanket where fluidsflowing onto the blanket are collected. The dimension of the section issuch that at least one fluid absorbent mechanism such as a fluidabsorbent pad may be secured to it for absorbing fluids that flow intothat section.

Instead of securing the fluid absorbent pad on the top surface of thetop or upper layer of the thermal blanket, the fluid absorbent pad maybe secured to the underside of the blanket, i.e., to the exposed surfaceof the bottom layer. If so secured, at least one hole, or slit, isprovided at the fluid collection section so that whatever fluids flowonto the section are drained directly into the pad. When the fluidabsorbent pad is secured to the underside of the blanket, there is noneed for such fluid absorbent pad to be confined to within the area ofthe section, as a relatively large fluid absorbent pad may be secured tothe underside of the blanket to absorb fluids that may be drained frommultiple sections. The only requirement is that different holes,apertures or slits be provided in the different sections so thatwhatever fluids collected in those sections are drained directly ontothe fluid absorbent pad attached to the underside of the blanket.

Instead of a pad that is flat on both its top and bottom surfaces, a padthat has a flat upper surface and a corrugated lower surface may also beused. Due to the forming of multiple channels by the corrugated lowersurface of such pad, the area through which fluids may pass into, and beabsorbed by, the pad is increased.

For the fluid absorbent pads that are secured to the upper surface ofthe blanket, the top layer of the pad may be made of a hydrophobicmaterial while the bottom surface of the pad, be it flat or corrugated,may be made of a hydrophillic material, so that the upper surface of thepad will remain dry in the event that it comes into contact with thepatient. The fluids collected into the welled section are absorbed bythe pad through its hydrophillic layer. To enhance absorption, only aportion of the bottom layer of the pad may be secured to the welledsection of the top layer of the blanket.

So, too, the top layer of the pad may be made of a hydrophillic materialwhile the bottom layer may be made from a hydrophobic material, so longas the patient resting on the blanket would remain substantially dryand/or not be affected by the potentially wet top surface of the pad.Further, under the same scenario, both the top and bottom layers of thepad may be made of hydrophillic material to provide a pad that isadaptable to absorb fluids from all sides.

The inventive inflatable thermal blanket onto which a subject patient ispositioned therefore comprises: an air permeable top layer for receivingthe subject, a bottom layer joined at its periphery to the top layer andselectively joined to the top layer at different sections to form aninflatable structure where portions of the top and bottom layers notjoined form targeted areas that are inflatable, at least one input portopening into the opening of the inflatable structure, and fluidabsorbent means provided to at least either the top layer or the bottomlayer. Further, the fluid absorbent means may be fixedly attached to oneof the joined areas or one of the joined sections at the top of the toplayer that forms a well for collecting the fluids.

The invention also relates to an inflatable blanket, onto which asubject is positioned, that includes an air permeable top layer forreceiving the subject, a bottom layer joined at its periphery to the toplayer and selectively joined to the top layer at different sections toform an inflatable structure where portions of the top and bottom layersnot joined form pocketed areas that are inflatable, at least one inputport opening into the inflatable structure, at least one opening atleast one of the sections to establish a through hole from the top layerthrough the bottom layer, and fluid absorbing means provided, eitherfixedly or non-fixedly, to the underside of the bottom layer of theblanket to absorb fluid drained from the top layer.

The invention further relates to a method of controlling the temperatureof a subject patient that comprises the steps of: positioning thesubject onto an inflatable blanket having an air permeable top layer forreceiving the subject and a bottom layer joined at its periphery to thetop layer and selectively joined to the top layer at different sectionsto form an inflatable structure where portions of the top and bottomlayers not joined form pocketed areas that are inflatable, passingtemperature regulated air from the top layer to the subject by inflatingthe structure, and providing fluid absorbent means on top of the toplayer to absorb fluid from the subject or any other source.

Another invention disclosed herein relates to the input port, and morespecifically the retainer provided thereat to which the air hose forinflating the blanket is mated. The retainer is a collapsible retainerthat, when set to its collapsed position, configures the blanket into asubstantially flat structure that may be readily folded into a neatpackage for shipping and storage.

To enable the retainer port to collapse to thereby allow the blanket tobe folded into a substantially flat structure so as to effect a lowprofile blanket, the inventive input port has a retainer sheet that hasat least one bent or scored line that extends along the sheet in adirection and orientation that allows the sheet to be folded along anedge of the blanket, so that once bent, the retainer sheet would fold atits bent line along the periphery of the blanket. The retainer sheet isfurther formed to have a seal or a plug that is removably fixed to thesheet. If the seal is not removed, air does not pass through theretainer sheet. Therefore, the input port acts as if it does not exist.To use, the retainer sheet is unfolded along its bent line so as to beflattened out. By either punching out or removing the non-permanent sealfrom the retainer sheet, an aperture aligned with an opening into theblanket is formed at the retainer sheet to allow the input port toaccept an air hose through which temperature regulated air may be inputto the blanket for inflating the same.

To enhance the straightening out or flattening of the retainer sheetfrom its folded or collapsible position to its input position foraccepting the air hose, at least two additional bent or scored lines maybe provided on the retainer sheet, possibly in parallel to but atopposite sides of the center bent line so that the retainer sheet may befolded along the two additional bent lines to form a semi box-likeconfiguration to facilitate the insertion of the air hose into the inputport of the blanket. When in its input position, the retainer sheet issubstantially orthogonal to the plane where the blanket structure lies.When in its collapsed position, the retainer sheet lies substantiallyco-planarly with the blanket structure.

Wings may be extended from the retainer sheet, with appropriate voids orapertures thereon to enable the input port to act as an anchor forlocking air hoses that are equipped with locking tabs.

The instant invention therefore also relates to a blanket comprising: atop layer, a bottom layer bonded to the top layer at least therespective peripheries of the layers to form an inflatable structure, atleast one opening into the structure, and a retainer bonded to theopening adapted to accept an air input hose, wherein the retainercomprises a sheet that includes at least one bent line that extendsacross the sheet to enable the sheet to be folded along the one bentline so that the folded sheet would lie substantially along the planewhere the blanket structure lies.

Instead of a line, the retainer sheet may have a weakened sectionextending therealong that allows the sheet to be folded as if there wasa bent or scored line. In this instance, the invention relates to aninflatable blanket that comprises: a top layer and a bottom layer bondedtogether at least their respective peripheries to form an inflatablestructure, at least one opening into the structure and a retainer bondedto the opening adapted to accept an input air hose. The retainercomprises a sheet that includes one weakened section extendinglongitudinally along the length of the sheet so as to allow the sheet tolie substantially co-planarly with the blanket structure when the sheetis folded along the one weakened section, and to lie substantiallyorthogonal to the blanket structure when the sheet is not folded alongthe weakened section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will become apparent and will best be understoodby reference to the following description of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an inflatable convective thermal blanket of theinstant invention;

FIG. 2 is a semi-perspective cross-sectional view of a section of theblanket with a fluid absorbent pad secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of a fluidabsorbent pad secured to a bonded section of the inventive thermalblanket;

FIG. 4 is a third embodiment illustrating a fluid absorbent pad securedto the underside of a thermal blanket;

FIG. 5 shows the thermal blanket of the instant invention with aninventive input port for mating with an air hose;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inventive retainer sheet of the instantinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the relationship of an airhose and the retainer sheet of the instant invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the mating of an air hose to the retainersheet of the instant invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another type of air hoserelative to the retainer sheet of the instant invention; and

FIG. 10 shows the coupling of the air hose of FIG. 9 to the retainersheet of the instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an inflatable convective thermal blanket 2 isshown to have a structure that is configured to have a head portion 4and a body portion 6 onto which a subject patient, such as for examplean infant, may be placed. The patient is supported by the upper or toplayer 8, as shown in FIG. 2, which is joined to a lower or bottom layer10 at the respective peripheries 12 of the top and bottom layers. Toplayer 8 is further joined to bottom layer 10 at different locations orsections such as for example 14 and 16. In addition, for the inventiveblanket, an exemplar section 18 that has a wider dimension than those ofsections 14 and 16 joins top layer 8 to bottom layer 10. For theinventive blanket, sections 14 and 16 each are formed in a particularconfiguration, with the respective ends of each of the sections shown tohave a circular end point configuration. These circular end points,which may also be of some other configurations, provide strain relieffor these sections. Thus, section end stops 14 a and 14 b provide strainrelief for section 14. The same is true with respect to section 16 inwhich end stops 16 a and 16 b likewise provide strain relief for section16.

For those portions of the blanket that are not joined, pocketed areasthat inflate when air is input to the blanket are formed. Some of thoseareas of the blanket include a plurality of holes 20 through whichtemperature regulated air in the blanket could be directed to andthereby regulate the temperature of the patient. As shown, sets of holes20 a and 20 b are provided about section 8, while sets of holes 20 c areprovided in the pocketed area surrounded by section 18. In addition,there are a plurality of sets of holes 20 d, 20 e and 20 f provided attop layer 8 adjacent to sections 14 and 16. Moreover, two sets of holes20 g and 20 h are provided around the head section 4 of the blanket.Note however that the instant invention blanket is not limited to theconfiguration of holes as shown in FIG. 1, nor for that matter theconfiguration of the sections shown. The important thing for theinventive blanket is that there be at least one section, aside from theperiphery of the blanket, to which the top layer 8 is joined to thebottom layer 10. Further, in order that the blanket can support asubject patient such as an infant, the blanket is designed to have ahead portion and a body portion. For some patients, however, the headportion may not be needed, as the body portion may well be extendedlengthwise to provide support for the head of the adult patient.

So that the head of the patient remains still when placed on theblanket, for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, head section 4 is made upof a number of concentric sections with central head section 4 a beingsurrounded by sections 4 b, 4 c and 4 d. In the event that it is notdesirable to input air to the head portion of the blanket, top layer 8is joined or bonded to bottom layer 10 of the blanket at head sections 4b and 4 d, so that there is no air input to head portion 4 of theblanket.

Blanket 2 is designed to be inflated with the patient resting thereon.Further, blanket 2 is designed to ensure that fluids from the patient,or another source(s), would not affect substantially the temperature ofthe patient. To that end, the inventors have found that by designing theblanket to have at least one section of a given dimension and by placingor securing to that section fluid absorbent means, fluids from thepatient or some other source will be absorbed by the fluid absorbentmeans, so that the temperature of the patient, as regulated by theblanket, would not be substantially adversely affected by the presenceof the fluid. Thus, the inventive blanket 2 is designed to minimize theevaporative and cooling effects fluids collected on the blanket may haveon a subject patient.

For the inventive blanket, the top and bottom layers each may be madefrom a 0.9 oz./sq. yd., white non-woven spun-bound polypropylenematerial. Both the top layer 8 and the bottom layer 10 may haveextrusion coating thereon a white low density polyethylene coating toprevent fluid from passing through. The top layer 8 is an air permeablelayer due to holes effected thereon.

As further shown in FIG. 1, blanket 2 has a number of input ports, forexample 22 and 24 at the leg and head portions, respectively. Each ofthose input ports 22 and 24 is the same. The important thing to note isthat only one of those ports needs to be used at any given time. Thediscussion relating to the input ports 22 and 24 will be given, infra,with respect to the inventive retainer mechanism that is a part of eachof the input ports. Even though there are only two input ports shown inthe FIG. 1 embodiment, at least one or additional input ports mayconceivably be provided to inflation thermal blankets such as blanket 2shown in FIG. 1.

Flaps 26 a and 26 b are extensions of blanket 2 which may be used forplacing or more securely mounting blanket 2 onto a table or bed.

With reference to FIG. 2, which shows section 2-2 of FIG. 1, asdiscussed previously, upper layer 8 is joined to bottom layer 10 to forma section 18. For the inventive blanket, section 18 may be configured tohave a width, as indicated by designation 28, that may be anywhere from0.5″ to approximately 4″. For the preferred embodiment, section 18 has awidth 28 of approximately 2″. Further as discussed previously, at thoseportions of the blanket where upper layer 8 is not joined to bottomlayer 10, pocketed areas such as 30 a and 30 b, as shown in FIG. 2, areformed. Temperature regulated air input to the blanket would escape fromthe air permeable upper layer 8 through those air pockets 30. To enhancethe output of air, strategically placed holes 20 are provided at upperlayer 8 to direct the temperature regulated air to the patient, who islying on top of blanket 2.

As further shown in FIG. 2, an exemplar fluid absorbent pad 32 issecured to the top surface of top layer 8, at section 18. Absorbent pad32, for the embodiment shown, includes a top surface layer 32 a, abottom surface layer 32 b and a middle layer 32 c sandwiched by toplayer 32 a and bottom layer 32 b. Top and bottom layers 32 a and 32 bmay also be considered as covers for layer 32 c. To ensure that thepatient does not come into contact with a wet surface, top layer 32 a ofpad 32 may comprise a sheet of hydrophobic material that may be made ofa white non-woven spun-bound polypropylene material that has extrusioncoated at one side a low-density polyethylene coating. The bottom layer32 c of pad 32, on the other hand, may comprise a non-woven spun-boundpolypropylene material that is uncoated. In other words, bottom layer 32c of pad 32 may be a hydrophillic material that is adapted to absorbfluids. The layer 32 c of the material sandwiched by top layer 32 a andbottom layer 32 c of pad 32 is a fluid absorbent material that mayinclude, for example, cotton, other fibrous materials, or a materialmade of high performance cellulose fibers and a super absorbent polymer(SAP). One such exemplar cellulose fibers and absorbent polymersmaterial that may be used for layer 32 c of fluid absorbent pad 32 isthe NovaThin absorbent core made by the Rayonier Inc., which has itsUnited States headquarters at Jacksonville, Fla. Fluid absorbent pad 32may be secured to section 18 by adhesion, for example using an adhesiveincluding for example a non-fluid affected glue and/or adhesive strips.

Although the exemplar fluid absorbent pad 32 shown in FIG. 2 isdisclosed to have a hydrophobic top layer and a hydrophilic bottomlayer, it should be appreciated that in practice the converseconfiguration may be used, i.e., the top layer being a hydrophilic andthe bottom layer being hydrophobic. Moreover, so long as the patientresting on the blanket would remain substantially dry and/or not beaffected the fluid absorbent pad (for example when the inflated portionsof the blanket raise the body of the patient high enough off the paddedsection so that the patient does not come into contact with the toplayer of the fluid absorbent pad), both the top and bottom layers orsurfaces of the fluid absorbent pad may be made of hydrophilic materialso that fluids may be absorbed by the fluid absorbent pad at any angle,or from all sides.

When blanket 2 is inflated, given that upper layer 8 would tend toextend in the direction as indicated by directional arrow 34, and thatsection 18 is lower than the inflated portions of the blanket, fluidsfrom the patient, and other sources, are collected in the valley or wellestablished by section 18. These fluids are then absorbed by absorbentpad 32 in the direction as indicated by directional arrows 36, i.e., atthe different sides of portion 32 c, as well as by bottom layer 32 b.Even though all four sides of pad 32 are shown to be opened to layer 32c, in practice, top layer 32 a may be joined directly to bottom layer 32b at their respective edges, similar to a sealed package for example, sothat fluids seep into and be absorbed by portion 32 c of the pad throughthe hydrophillic bottom layer 32 b. Alternatively, the non-longitudinalsides of the pad 32 may not be sealed, so that fluids may readily beabsorbed by layer 32 c via the cross sectional sides of pad 32, pershown by directional arrows 36 a in FIG. 2. So, too, if the thickness ofpad 32 vis-a vis the inflated portions of blanket 2 is such that thepatient being supported by blanket 2 does not come into contact with thetop surface of pad 32, then pad 32 may be configured to have ahydrophilic top layer 32 a in addition to a hydrophilic lower layer 32b, so that fluids may also be absorbed by pad 32 through its top layer32 a.

FIG. 3 illustrates a different type of fluid absorbent pad that may beused for enhancing the fluid absorbability of the inventive blanket.Components in FIG. 3 that are the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are numberedthe same. In particular, fluid absorbent pad 38 of the FIG. 3 embodimentis also secured to section 18 of the inventive blanket. Instead of thesubstantially rectangular shaped pad 32 shown in FIG. 2, fluid absorbentpad 38 is a “gusset” like pad that has a top layer 38 a and a lowerlayer 38 b that extends to top layer 38 a by way of two sides 38 b′. Asshown, lower layer 38 b of pad 38 has a corrugated shape so thatmultiple channels or grooves, such as for example channels 40 a-40 d,may be formed between the bottom surface of bottom layer 38 b of pad 38and the top surface of top layer 8 of the blanket. Same as the earlierembodiment, top layer 38 a may be made from a hydrophobic material thatmaintains its dryness while bottom layer 38 b may be made from ahydrophillic material that allows fluids to pass through. Alternatively,top layer 38 a may be hydrophilic while bottom layer 38 b may behydrophobic, or both top layer 38 a and bottom layer 38 b may behydrophilic.

Enclosed by layers 38 a and 38 b is the fluid absorbent materialmentioned earlier, for example the high performance cellulose fibers andsuper absorbent polymer (SAP) material NovaThin, that effectivelyabsorbs fluids that may be collected on section 18 of the blanket. Pad38 is attached or secured to top layer 8 of the blanket by any one ormore of the contact points 42 shown. Thus, given that bottom layer 38 bprovides a corrugated surface, the surface area adapted to be exposed tofluids is therefore increased for the fluid absorbent pad 38 of the FIG.3 embodiment. That being the case, fluid absorbent pad 38 may be able toabsorb fluids at a faster rate than the pad shown in FIG. 2. Fluids areshown to be absorbed by layer 38 c through layer 38 b per directionalarrows 39.

FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of the fluid absorbent pad of theinstant invention. As before, the components for the FIG. 4 embodimentthat are the same as in the previously discussed embodiments are labeledthe same. For the embodiment of FIG. 4, instead of securing the fluidabsorbent means such as a fluid absorbent pad on the top of upper layer8 of the blanket, the fluid absorbent means is secured to the lowersurface of bottom layer 10 of the blanket. As shown, fluid absorbent pad44 is securely attached to bottom layer 10 by some portions of its toplayer 44 a, which is joined to its enclosure layer 44 b. For fluidabsorbing pad 44, layer 44 a is a hydrophillic layer through which fluidmay pass and be absorbed by the material in layer 44 c of the pad.Alternatively, the portion of top layer 44 a, designated 44 a′ may beremoved from layer 44 a so that fluids collected on section 18 may flowdirectly into material 44 c of pad 44. To enhance the draining of fluidinto fluid absorbent pad 44, a number of openings or slits such as 46 ato 46 c may be effected on section 18. As before, layer 44 c of pad 44may be a material such as the above mentioned NovaThin. For the FIG. 4embodiment, therefore, instead of absorbing the fluid directly on thewell area created by section 18, the collected fluids are drained to afluid absorbing material that is mounted to the underside of theblanket. Note that even though pad 44 is exaggeratedly shown to bethicker and covers only a bit more area than section 18, in practice,pad 44 may be a much thinner pad that extends across a major portion, ifnot all, of bottom layer 10 of the blanket.

There may be a plurality of fluid absorbent means securely attached tosection 18 and/or some other sections, be those means the pad 32 shownin the FIG. 2 embedment or the pad 38 shown in the FIG. 3 embodiment.This is illustrated in FIG. 1 where a plurality of fluid absorbent pads,designated for example by 32 a-32 d, are separately mounted to section18 on top layer 8 of blanket 2. Although a plurality of fluid absorbentpads are shown, it should be appreciated that section 18 could be filledcompletely with the types of fluid absorbent materials as describedabove; or, alternatively, a greater or lesser number of pads than thatshown in FIG. 1 may be secured to section 18, and/or some othersimilarly dimensioned sections of the blanket.

Moreover, although shown to be located at the body portion 6 of blanket2, section 18, or some other section(s), may in fact be extendedtowards, or provided at head portion 4 of blanket 2, with theappropriate fluid absorbent pad(s) added thereon. Furthermore, insteadof a single section such as 18 shown in FIG. 1, a number of separatenon-contacting sections similar to section 18 may be provided onto theinventive blanket, so long as those sections are dimensioned inaccordance as discussed above, so that the appropriate fluid absorbentmaterial may be secured or mounted thereon for absorbing fluids from thepatient or other sources that may be collected at those welled sectionsof the blanket. As for the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, differentsections, with appropriate holes or slits effected thereon, may beformed on the blanket to provide fluid paths whereby fluids may bedrained from the different sections onto the fluid absorbent pad securedto the back or underside of the blanket.

A second invention is disclosed by FIGS. 5-10. Components in FIGS. 5-10that are the same as those discussed in FIGS. 1-4 are labeled the same.

As shown in FIG. 5, input port 22 of blanket 2 is mated to an air hose48, which in turn is connected by a tubing 50 to an air blower, notshown, as is well known. Also well known is that temperature regulatedair, such as warmed air, is input to blanket 2, per indicated by thedirectional arrows 52. Input port 24 is shown not being used in FIG. 5.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5 and with particular reference to FIG. 6,note that each of the input ports 22, 24 is fitted with a retainer sheet54. Sheet 54 may be made of a medical grade cardboard, or plastic, orsome other material that would afford flexibility and bendability. Asshown, sheet 54 has a main body 56 that has a center portion 58 that isremovably attached to main portion 56 by a continuous circular cut line60 and a plurality of smaller cut lines 62 that extend outwards fromcircular cut line 60. For the FIG. 6 embodiment, although not criticalto the invention, two wings 64 a and 64 b extend opposedly from body 56of sheet 54. Each of the wings 64 a, 64 b has a slot 66 a, 66 b,respectively, which are used for attachment with corresponding lockingtabs, such as tabs 68, that are mounted to an air hose 48. See FIG. 10.Sheet 54 is dimensioned to enable it to be attached or bonded to anopening of the blanket, identified as 70 in FIG. 1 for example, so thatwhen center portion 58 is removed from sheet 54, opening 70 provides anentry whereby air may be input to the blanket. Sheet 54, as it is usedwith the input opening of blanket 2, may be referred to as the retainersheet.

As best shown in FIG. 6, retainer sheet 54 has a central bent or scoredline 72 that extends longitudinally in the direction as indicated bydirectional arrows 74 across body 56, including across removable portion58. Bent line 72 allows sheet 54 to be bent or folded, as indicated bysheet 54 at the input port 24 shown in FIG. 5. Two additional bent orscored lines 76 a and 76 b, each running parallel to but at either sideof line 72, also extend across body 56 along the direction indicated bydirectional arrows 74. Bent lines 76 a and 76 b provide sheet 54 withthe flexibility of being bent or folded into a semi-boxlikeconfiguration, such as that shown by sheet 54 at input port 22 of FIG.5, so that the retainer sheet 54 is positioned substantially orthogonalto the plane where the structure of blanket 2 lies.

On the other hand, as shown by the retainer sheet 54 at port 24,inasmuch as there is no need for an air hose to be inserted at thatinput port, retainer sheet 54 remains folded, or in its collapsedposition, so that it remains in a substantially coplanar relationshipwith the blanket structure, i.e., it lies closer to or substantiallyalong the same plane as the blanket. Thus, by unfolding sheet 54, fromthe position shown at input port 24 to the position shown at input port22 of FIG. 5, and by further folding sheet 54 at lines 76 a, 76 b sothat portions 56 a and 56 b of body 56 are folded substantially at rightangle relative to main body 56, a semi-boxlike shape that conforms sheet54 to be better adapted to receive air hose 48 can be effected. Toenable wings 64 to be folded so that slots 66 may be engaged withrespective locking tabs 68 shown in FIG. 10, additional bent or scoredlines 78 a and 78 b are provided at the corresponding junctions wherewings 64 a and 64 b, respectively, extend from body 56 of retainer sheet54.

The placement of retainer sheet 54 onto blanket 2 to form the inputport, for example input port 24 shown in FIG. 5, is done such thatretainer sheet 54 may be folded or collapsed, along with blanket 2, intoa substantially flat shape for storage or shipping purposes. To bestachieve this desired collapsibility, retainer sheet 54 is bonded to theperiphery of the blanket, such as at periphery 12, so that retainersheet 54 may be bent at bent line 72, which is shown to be flush withperiphery portion 12 a in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Although the sections where sheet 54 are foldable are referred to asbent lines or scored lines above, it should be appreciated that thosebent or scored lines may actually be weakened sections that similarlywould allow sheet 54 to be bent or folded, per the above discussion.

FIG. 7 shows in perspective view the hose retainer sheet 54, in relationto air hose 48, after portion 58 has been removed from sheet 54, andafter sheet 54 has been unfolded into the position that is substantiallyorthogonal to the plane of the blanket, so that air hose 48 may readilybe inserted into opening 70. With the cut lines 62 provided on body 56,the insertion of hose 48 into opening 70 of the blanket is facilitated,as opening 70 may be widened, per the bending of the cut lines 62 foraccepting portion 48 a and barb 48 b of air hose 48. As barb 48 b has alarger diameter than entry portion 48 a, once barb 48 b enters andpasses the lip of opening 70, due to the shape of opening 70 beingaffected by the cut lines 62, air hose 48 is securely mated to retainersheet 54, and therefore the input port of the blanket. Only with apredetermined force would air hose 48 be removed from opening 70. Anouter ring 48 c at the top portion of air hose 48 prevents the air hosefrom being inserted further than necessary into opening 70.

FIG. 8 shows air hose 48 having been properly mated to hose retainersheet 54.

FIG. 9 illustrates an air hose 48 that is fitted with locking tabs 68that are engagable with slots 66 of hose retainer 54.

FIG. 10 shows the mating of air hose 48 to hose retainer 54, and thelocking of tabs 68 to slot 66 of one of the wings 64, as was discussedabove.

The inventions as disclosed above are subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail. Thus, it is intended that allmatters described throughout this specification and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative only and not in alimiting sense. Accordingly, it is intended that the inventions belimited only by the spirit and scope of the hereto appended claims.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A method of manufacturing an inflatable blanket, comprising the steps of: bonding a top layer and a bottom layer together at least at their respective peripheries to form an inflatable structure; establishing at least one opening into said structure; bonding a retainer adapted to accept an input air hose to the opening, said retainer comprising a sheet that includes a center portion having a non-permanent seal that closes said one opening; and effecting at least one weakened section longitudinally extending across the length of said retainer to enable said retainer to lie substantially coplanarly with said structure when said retainer is folded along the weakened section, and to lie substantially orthogonal to said structure when said retainer is not folded along the weakened section.
 19. Method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: forming said non-permanent seal by a cut line that enables said center portion to be removed from said sheet.
 20. Method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: forming two other weakened sections along said retainer in parallel to said one weakened section; and configuring said retainer into a shape better adapted to receive said hose by unfolding said retainer along said one weakened section and bending said retainer along said other weakened sections.
 21. Method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: aligning said one weakened section along a section of a periphery of said structure so that once said sheet is folded along said one weakened section, the folded edge of said sheet is flush with the periphery section of said structure.
 22. Method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: forming at said sheet at least one wing bendable along another bent line at right angle relative to said sheet that includes a slot to enable a hose equipped with an attachment barb to be securely attached to said retainer.
 23. Method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: making said sheet from cardboard or plastic.
 24. A method of making a blanket comprising the steps of: bonding a top layer to a bottom layer at least the respective peripheries of the layers to form an inflatable structure; forming at least one opening into said structure; and bonding a retainer to the opening to accept an air input hose, wherein said retainer comprises a sheet that includes a center portion that is a part of said sheet, said center portion being defined by a cut line that enables said center portion to be removable from said sheet, said center portion being positioned in alignment with the opening, said retainer having at least one bent line extending across said sheet including across said center portion to enable said sheet and said center portion to be folded along said one bent line so that the folded sheet including said center portion would lie closer to or substantially along the plane where said structure lies.
 25. Method of claim 24, wherein said sheet, when unfolded, lies in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of said structure.
 26. Method of claim 24, wherein after removal of said center portion from said sheet, said hose is insertable into the opening of said structure.
 27. Method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: forming at said sheet at least one wing bendable along another bent line at right angle relative to said sheet that includes a slot to enable a hose equipped with an attachment barb to be securely attached to said retainer.
 28. Method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: forming two additional bent lines extending parallel to and along either side of said one bent line, wherein when said sheet is not folded along said one bent line, said sheet may be folded along each of the additional bent lines to configure said retainer to a shape better adapted to receive said hose.
 29. Method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: making said sheet form cardboard or plastic.
 30. A method of manufacturing a thermal inflatable blanket, comprising the steps of: bonding a top layer and a bottom layer together at least at their respective peripheries to form an inflatable structure; and forming an input port into said structure, said input port including a retainer having a seal removable from said retainer to accept an input air hose, said retainer including one bent line longitudinally extending across its length and two other bent lines each running parallel along but at respective sides of said one bent line, said retainer collapsible to lie substantially coplanarly with said structure when folded along said one bent line, and to lie substantially orthogonal to said structure when not folded along said one bent line.
 31. Method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: closing the opening of said inlet port with said seal; and defining said seal by a cut line on said retainer so that said seal is readily removable from said retainer.
 32. Method of claim 30, wherein when said retainer is not folded along said one bent line, the method further comprising the step of: respectively folding said retainer along said other bent lines so as to configure said retainer into a shape better adaptable to receive said hose.
 33. Method of claim 30, further comprising the step of: making said sheet from cardboard or plastic. 